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Local women share stories of courage, strength and survival

submitted

Posted
Wednesday, October 25, 2017 2:28 pm

Stephanie Buckley

My identical twin sister and I were both diagnosed with breast cancer within a week of each other. I was on June 16, and Stacey that following week. We were both diagnosed from routine mammograms that ironically we did not know each other had scheduled.

We are 47 and each have a child going into third grade. It’s been a shocking, eventful ride these past several weeks.I have given it much thought as to if we should share this journey we are on together. It’s such a personal time, but if we could bring awareness to this issue and help just a few friends out there, it’s worth it.

My friend created a Facebook page for us to share our story with close friends and family, Since we started the page, nine women have gotten their mammograms.

God could not have chosen a better partner to go through this with me and we are well aware of the irony of it all. I found this out in June and honestly, July was a great month. My sister and I have chosen to stay happy and positive. It’s just not in our nature to be sad and sorry. We took my daughter river rafting, hiking in Crested Butte and Vail, and had a wonderful July all while waiting for my double mastectomy on July 21 I came through it with the help of my great doctors, wonderful friends, family, loving daughter and amazing husband. My sister was able to come from Kansas to help after the surgery and sadly I wasn’t able to travel there for hers on Aug. 15.

I cannot tell enough people how well Sally Jobe at Skyridge Hospital, and their amazing staff has treated me. I cannot imagine it being my job to tell people such horrible news. The compassion and consideration with how they have treated me has been wonderful. They treated me like I was their most urgent case and I received results the next day after each procedure. I cannot begin to be able to express my gratitude at how that helped me to deal with this and come up with a game plan. They helped me to be a fighter. My nurse navigator at Sally Jobe, Michelle Weaver, has been a wonderful partner who held my hand at the very beginning when you haven' t had time to digest what is happening to you. She did an amazing job of explaining the different tests, pathology, and journey I would be on and we are still in touch. She went so far as to connect with my sister's nurse navigator in Kansas and make sure that she was in good hands as well.

We are not through it all yet. W are hoping for the best. This has taught us both to try to be more patient each day, speak more kindly, and appreciate each day we have.